FOOTBALL NEWS

Esteban Cambiasso has said Inter's 3-1 win over Fiorentina is a sign of things to come for next season.

Speaking after the game in which he scored in addition to strikes from Giampaolo Pazzini and Philippe Coutinho, the midfielder was keen to stress his side would be back bigger and better next term after losing the Scudetto to AC Milan.

"I am happy to score and it was important to win, but we must not make dramas for Milan's title win," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"We knew after so many wins on the bounce that it would happen. We have already won two titles this term [the Italian Super Cup and Club World Cup]. We have got a Champions League place, and now we have to think about the Coppa Italia."

Questioned by Mediaset Premium, Cambiasso did admit there was a sense of disappointment to have lost the title after years of dominance.

"Of course we regret the Scudetto and it's not nice losing it. But, we are already working to win it back."

Inter meet Roma in the Coppa on Wednesday night and boast a 1-0 semi-final aggregat.


Source: Goal.com

Fernando Torres drops to the bench for Chelsea's crucial Premier League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Carlo Ancelotti's £50 million January acquisition featured for just over an hour in Chelsea's 2-1 win over Tottenham last Saturday before being replaced by the winning goalscorer Salomon Kalou.

The Ivorian, who's netted three in his last four outings, is part of Chelsea's three-man attack alongside Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda.

For Manchester United, only Edwin van der Sar, John O'Shea and Antonio Valencia survive from their convincing 4-1 victory over Schalke on Wednesday.

Fabio replaces his brother Rafael at right-back while Rio Ferdinand and Nermanja Vidic return at centre-back.

In midfield, Sir Alex Ferguson has kept Valencia on the right wing while partnering Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs in the centre. Park Ji-Sung is handed a starting berth on the left flank.

In attack, Dimitar Berbatov drops to the bench while Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez return.

Manchester United: Van der Sar; Fabio, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea; Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park; Rooney; Hernandez. Subs: Kuszczak, Anderson, Berbatov, Smalling, Nani, Scholes, Evans.

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, David Luiz, Terry, Cole; Lampard, Mikel, Essien; Kalou, Drogba, Malouda. Subs: Turnbull, Alex Ferreira, Ramires, Benayoun, Torres, Anelka.

Source: Goal.com

Udinese defeated Lazio 2-1 in a fiery encounter, which saw the home side reduced to 10 men at the Stadio Friuli. Antonio Di Natale was the mastermind as his first half performance tore apart the visiting defence.

The first goal was scored when Alexis Sanchez set up Di Natale, who slotted the ball past Fernando Muslera. The forward then doubled the lead six minutes later as he tapped in Mauricio Isla's cross. Mauro Zarate missed a penalty following a foul by Gabriele Angella on Tommaso Rocchi, but Lazio netted a consolation goal through substitute Libor Kozak late in the second half.

Udinese should have opened the scoring in the sixth minute as Di Natale was clean through but his shot was saved by the legs of Muslera. Alexis Sanchez slotted away the rebound but the assistant referee called him offside. Hernanes was the Biancocelesti’s most potent threat in the first quarter of an hour as his skills were constantly taunting the home side. The Brazilian earned a free kick after a solo run but squandered it when he blazed over the bar.
Lazio were finally finding their feet 20 minutes into the game with Hernanes and Zarate creating chances for their side.
Following a corner for thei visitors, Sanchez was in possession of the ball and played through Giampiero Pinzi who had a goal scoring opportunity saved by Muslera and Di Natale hit the side netting with his follow up.
In a similar attack, Isla passed the ball into the feet of Di Natale who put his shot wide of the post as Lazio were now living on thin ice and were lucky to still be in the game.
However in the 35th minute, Di Natale finally broke the deadlock as he controlled the ball looped over the defence by Sanchez and with his second touch, thumped the ball past Muslera, who had no chance of saving it.
The Bianconeri’s talisman returned six minutes later to score his second of the game when Sanchez spotted a run by Isla on the edge of the box and with two touches the Chilean midfielder crossed the ball into the feet of Di Natale who couldn’t miss the open goal.
Lazio started the second half brighter but the first chance fell to Udinese when Di Natale saw Isla free in the box but his shot went straight into the hands of Muslera.
Francesco Guidolin decided that with the two-goal lead a tactical change was needed to keep the result as Di Natale and Sanchez were replaced by Bernado Corradi and Joel Ekstrand.
Tommaso Rocchi came on to replace Sergio Floccari in the 66^th minute and he won a penalty with his first few touches as Gabriele Angella took him down. The Udinese centre back was shown the red card by referee Nicola Rizzoli.
With a chance to get back in the game Zarate stepped up to take the penalty but his shot was saved in the centre of the goal by Samir Handanovic.
Libor Kozak was introduced to the fold in place of Hernanes in an attempt to score a goal. Edy Reja’s substitution paid off as Zarate crossed into the box and Kozak’s shin connected to the ball to reduce Udinese’s lead.
The last ten minutes saw Lazio crossing balls into the box but they failed to find an equaliser as headers from Kozak and Andre Dias were agonisingly close to finding the back of the net.
Lazio's defeat saw them tumble to fifth place, level on 60 points with city rivals Roma with two games still to play.
The victory for Udinese allowed them to leapfrog Lazio as they sit in the final Champions league spot in fourth with a two point lead.

Source: Goal.com

Inter president Massimo Moratti has denied reports of a move for Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, and suggested that Leonardo will remain at the helm next season.

His message comes just 24 hours after the Guardiola told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "I still have an ongoing contract with Barcelona. Inter are a great club, but I'll stay with my current club for an additional season."

Moratti, who was speaking prior to Inter's win over Fiorentina this afternoon, said the Spanish tactician was not on his agenda.

"I am not thinking about Guardiola. In football you make mistakes when you think too much. I am thinking about next year," he told the press.

"From me Leonardo has had all the reassurances."

City rivals Milan wrapped up the title on Saturday, ending a five-year period of Inter dominance, and the chief passed on his congratulations.

"Milan had consistency and they believed. They had a good season. Also they strengthened well this season, so it's right like this.

"I am sure it must have been hard for them over the last five years."

Source: Goal.com

Brescia's rehabilitation from a disastrous season will begin in Serie B after being relegated from Italy's top-flight, losing 2-1 at home to Catania on Sunday.

Goals from Matias Silvestre and Gonzalo Bergessio boosted the Sicilian's chances of survival, with Alessandro Diamanti grabbing a late consolation for the Rondinelle, who are down and out.

Brescia needed to win and hope Lecce failed to have a glimmer of hope, but the Salentini won 2-1, ensuring that Giuseppe Iachini's men are sent down to the second division.

They are seven points behind Lecce with two games remaining against Cesena and Fiorentina.

Source: goal.com

British bookmakers William Hill firmly believe Jose Mourinho will remain in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu for another season. He's 1.67 to still be Los Blancos' boss on the first day of the Premier League season in August.

"Jose himself has hinted he wishes to stay where he is and for all the controversy he stirred up during the semi against Barca it is difficult to see where he could go and still progress his career next season - unless, of course, Sir Alex Ferguson suddenly quit," said William Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

The 'Special One' has coached six teams in the course of his eleven year managerial career but has never departed after a single season. His position at the Spanish giants has been strengthened by delivering the Copa del Rey which is the first trophy in five years under two terms with President Florentino Perez.

Mourinho signed a four-year deal at the club last summer after winning the Champions League with Inter. His failure to eliminate Barcelona in Europe and his running battle with UEFA have angered some of the Real Madrid hierarchy but he remains popular with the fans and players.

Although he has spoken about returning to coach in England he has also pointed out that his teams have always performed better during his second season in charge. Both Porto and Inter won the Champions League during Mourinho's second full term at the helm.

Source: Goal.com

Manchester City and Real Madrid have joined the £5.5million race to sign Arsenal defender Gael Clichy, Goal.com can reveal.
The two big spending clubs have placed Clichy on their list of summer targets but face strong competition from Liverpool, who have a long-standing interest in the Frenchman.
Goal.com understands that Clichy, who is out of contract in 12 months, will sit down with Arsenal at the end of the season for further talks about a new deal.
Negotiations stalled earlier in the year after Clichy’s request for a hike on his £50,000-a-week wages was rebuffed by the club.
Manager Arsene Wenger fears the Gunners’ longest-serving player will not extend his stay at Emirates Stadium and is becoming increasingly willing to listen to clubs who will match Arsenal’s £5.5m valuation rather than allow the France international to leave for free in a year’s time.
Clichy, who turns 26 in July, is on the radar of a number of top clubs who are in the market for a proven performer at left-back.Liverpool’s interest in the player has been made clear in recent months as the Merseysiders aim to use the forthcoming transfer window to fill what has become a problem position. Newcastle United's Jose Enrique has also been lined up for the left-back slot, and hopes to land the Spaniard have been boosted by Newcastle's interest in Paul Konchesky, as revealed by Goal.com.
However, director of football Damien Comolli was instrumental in bringing Clichy to London from Cannes in 2003 when he was working for Arsenal as their French scout.
City and Real are also in the market for a new left-back as they bid to beef up their squads in the summer.
Clichy has started more league games, 33, than any other Arsenal player this season and only Laurent Koscielny and Jack Wilshere have exceeded his total of 40 starts in all competitions.
After a difficult start to the campaign, his form has improved in the second half of the season, which has been enough to keep his understudy and heir Kieran Gibbs on the sidelines.

Source: Goal.com